Ian Shafer is a passionate, multifaceted musician. He has held positions as an oboist, a conductor, and teacher. He has given several world premieres of works written for him; created chamber music and youth orchestra programs; designed music theory and history courses; and played for delegates of the United Nations. His playing has been described as, "sinuous, refined... and refreshing, with facility," ([Q]on Stage). He enjoys a very active freelance performance career in New York City as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician spanning a wide breadth of styles from the Baroque period to Contemporary improvisation. Additionally, he is a published author for the International Double Reed Society; has studied composition in Vienna with a student of Arnold Schoenberg; conducting in the Netherlands and the United States; and oboe repair in Philadelphia.

Dedicated to the expansion of the oboe repertoire and the boundaries of Classical music, through frequent collaborations, Mr. Shafer has given the world premieres of several works: Locales for Oboe and String Trio (2014), written on commission by Mohammed Fairouz, premiered at Carnegie Hall;Elegy and Impromptu for oboe and piano (2013), written on commission by James Adler premiered at the Yamaha Studios 5th Avenue in Manhattan; Layers of Earth for oboe, percussion and electronics (2012), by Danish composer, Lars Graugaard, set for CD release in the spring of 2015; Langanaich-Taragto (2010) a seven-minute improvised solo to Elizabeth Hoffman’s digital score, first presented at NYU’s Fredrick Lowe Theater, and was later expanded to a multilayered, multimedia improvisation with an added dance and electronic components to become Improvisational Spirals (2014) at the NYSoundCircuit; Exhalations (2009) a collaborative work, which through the use of pioneering internet technology, simultaneously connected five universities around the globe for a groundbreaking concert, "Pentalocust;" and using the same technology, connected musicians from New York and Abu Dhabi in two “Concerts for Peace” presenting Noor Al Salam (Light of Peace) (2009) and ResoNations (2008) for the delegates of the United Nations. In two productions, given by the Center for Contemporary Opera, he was the oboist at the world premiere of Michael Dellaria’s Secret Agent. Mr. Shafer is also a frequent artist at, “Louise’s Classical Coterie,” a private salon series in the Upper West Side of Manhattan; at Andrea Clearfield’s Salon series in Philadelphia; a featured artist on the recital series, “Bach’s Lunch” (PA); a featured soloist with the Sun City Chamber Players (FL); and as a freelance musician has performed with many ensembles in New York.

Mr. Shafer has passionately delivered weekly private lessons, coached chamber music, held reed-making seminars, designed theory, aural skills, and history courses, and given master classes to high school students ranging in topics. He has served as the Artistic Director/Conductor the Greater Philadelphia Honors Orchestra; and Crescendo, a chamber music festival for advanced students. He was also the Assistant Conductor of the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra. Mr. Shafer is on faculty at the Manhattan School of Music in the Precollege divisions of Oboe performance, Music Theory and Ear-training. More information

Mr. Shafer received his M.M. in Oboe Performance from New York University and his B.M. in Composition from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He has studied oboe with Bert Lucarelli, (International Soloist), Ray Still, (Chicago Symphony), and Patricia Stenberg, (Sarasota Orchestra) with additional lessons with Jonathan Kelly, (Berlin Philharmonic), Nathan Hughes, (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) and Jonathan Blumenfeld, (Philadelphia Orchestra). He has studied composition with Randolph Coleman and Richard Hoffmann, and conducting with Robert Spano, (Music Director, Atlanta Symphony) Louis Lane, (Asst. Cond. Cleveland Orchestra) and Jorma Panula, (formerly, Sibelius Academy, Finland). His composition: Russian Games was premiered by the Oberlin Wind Ensemble; Dreams for Woodwind Quintet by the Florida West Coast Symphony Quintet; and A Fugue a Four Trombone Quartet was played by the trombone section of the Chicago Symphony.

Langanaich for Oboe and Electronic Sounds

Composer: Elizabeth Hofman

This recording was from a live performance on the NYU New Music Ensemble "Soloists Concert" This performance was an 7-minute improvised solo against Elizabeth Hofman's work, Langanaich for Electronic Sounds.

Layers of Earth

Composer: Lars Graugaard

This is a sample of "Layers of Earth," a piece for solo oboe, 15 percussionists and electronic processing. This is the Ian Shafer with the NYU Percussion Ensemble and Mr. Graugaard on the computer.
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Whether or not the student’s ultimate goal is to become a professional musician, it cannot be disputed that studying music, at any age, will create a more knowledgeable, sensitive and sophisticated individual. Studying music increases the mind’s ability to imagine, think creatively, problem solve, multi-task, coordinate actions of the mind and body and heighten one’s attention to detail; all of which are skills that are highly valued in the modern workforce. Through music, a student is introduced to many foreign cultures, languages, art, literature, religions, philosophies, politics, and history.

It is my philosophy that students who possess the necessary foundational skills coupled with a plan to use them, will succeed in life. Therefore, it is my goal to provide students with a superior education through a tailor-made lesson designed to meet their specific needs. With more than ten years of teaching experience I have developed a solid method grounded in the fundamentals. Whether we are speaking of playing the oboe, learning theory, history, composition or aural skills, students will learn the techniques necessary to give them the confidence to succeed. Generally, I ask guided questions so that the learning process unfolds from the student's experience. I feel this way creates stronger, more capable students who are able to use reason and logic, as well as fall back on their fundamentals at crucial moments of performance. Many of my former students have received the highest honors in all areas of oboe playing including winning auditions at youth orchestras, "All-State" and regional orchestras, have participated in master-classes given by leading oboists, and have been accepted to various colleges including: Princeton University, Boston University, Franklin and Marshall College, among others.

Manhattan School of Music, Precollege division, New York, NY
Faculty - Oboe Performance, Music Theory, Ear-training

Community Music School, Collegeville, PA
Department Chair - Woodwinds & Music Theory,
Conductor of Orchestras,
Teacher - Oboe, Music Theory

Nelly Berman School of Music, Haverford, PA
Teacher - Oboe, Chamber Music Coach

Darlington Fine Arts Center, Garnet Valley, PA
Teacher - Oboe, Piano, Music Theory

Suburban Music School, Media, PA
Teacher - Oboe, Piano

"In “Elegy and Impromptu,” a world premiere, oboist Ian Shafer, who commissioned it, began with a mournful solo, the ‘Elegy,’ before Adler joined him for the ‘Impromptu,’ contemplative, then buoyant, and sometimes both at once"

"Ian Shafer, [oboist]...played a graceful, 'Mozartian Oboe' Trio...by Beethoven..."

"A refined and refreshing allegro first movement from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Oboe Quartet in F Major, played by oboist Ian Shafer, violinist Phong Ta, violist Michael Vannoni, and cellist Bjorn Berkhout, aptly began the concert, feeling almost akin to starting out with a Mozart opera overture, with the oboe’s effervescent assignment here the virtual antithesis of its frequent role in conveying pathos"

"Preceding the concert was an informative panel discussion, moderated by Desbordes, with Adler and QUO Assistant Conductor and Principal Oboist Ian Shafer....Desbordes said that she heard a jazz influence in it, while Shafer, with an oboe solo in the second movement, detected hints of Ralph Vaughan Williams...."

"Premiere travesti pianist Jacqueline Jonée, elegantly garbed as Little Red Riding Hood, all grown up, amusingly narrated Sergei Prokofiev’s, 'Peter and the Wolf... Jacqueline vividly acted out the various parts—the birds, the animals, and the people, including the hunters with their guns—as Dresden’s players skillfully limned them musically. Kudos go, in particular, to instrumental soloists Craig Devereaux, flautist; Ian Shafer, oboist; Travis Fraser, clarinetist; and David Lohman, bassoonist."

"Ian Shafer's tremendous skill as a conductor was evident throughout his interpretation of my opera scores...His musical decisions brought life to the characters and allowed the music to serve the story in the most natural and appealing way."